Physical button for touch screen

ABSTRACT

A control button for installation on a touchscreen display responding upon contact of an electrical conductor. The control button comprises a central portion comprising a touch sensitive component which has an electrical characteristic changed when touched by a user, and a body comprising electrical contacts and biasing device. The control button adopts at least one of a non-conducting position and a conducting position, whereby the biasing device biases the control button toward the non-conducting position. Upon pressure being applied by a user over the central portion, the control button moves from the non-conducting position until the control button reaches the conducting position, whereby in the conducting position an electrical circuit is completed from the touch sensitive component to the touchscreen display through the electrical contacts. The control button is further mounted to a gaming machine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication 62/567,562 filed Oct. 3, 2017, the specification of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND (a) Field

The subject matter herein disclosed generally relates to wagering gamemachines. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed relates tocontrol components in wagering game machines.

(b) Related Prior Art

The purpose of indicia on paper is to convey information. While this isalso true for visual effects in wagering game machines, images andindicia displayed by a wagering game's display device have theadditional extremely important purpose of providing or increasingentertainment for the player. If some players are not entertained, theywill not play on a wagering game machine. Also, more recently, playershave come to expect more entertainment from wagering game devices, forexample, those having video displays rather than the older mechanicaldisplays.

Since one of the primary purposes of a wagering game machine is toprovide entertainment, there is a major challenge for gaming devicemanufacturers to develop new games that provides increasedentertainment. Players are entertained not only by the risk of a wagerbut also by attractive, engaging, interesting, fun, new and differentvisual, audio, and audio-visual effects. For those reasons, the gamingindustry is constantly seeking to make advancements in games and in thedevices and components on which are played these games. If one views awagering game machine as only a wagering mechanism, the display orgraphical aspect of the wagering game machine may appear to have littlevalue. However, by remembering that a wagering game machine is anentertainment device as well as, or in addition to, a wagering device,the importance of an interesting and exciting graphical display and thetechnical challenges faced by gaming personnel to develop such displaysbecomes apparent. Simultaneously, to maintain certain player's interestin a wagering game machine for a significant period of time, the gamesand the wagering game machines on which they run must be highlyinteresting, entertaining, enjoyable and to minimize fatigue.

There is therefore a need for continuous improvement and development inthe field of wagering game machines.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there is provided a control button forinstallation on a touchscreen display responding upon contact by anelectrical conductor, the control button comprising: a central portioncomprising a touch sensitive component having an electricalcharacteristic that changes upon contact of a user's skin or by anelectrical conductor; and a body comprising electrical contacts and abiasing device; wherein the control button adopts at least one of anon-conducting position and a conducting position, whereby the biasingdevice biases the control button toward the non-conducting position, andwherein, upon pressure being applied by the user to the central portion,the control button moves from the non-conducting position until thecontrol button reaches the conducting position, whereby in theconducting position an electrical circuit is completed from the touchsensitive component to the touchscreen display through the electricalcontacts.

According to an aspect, the central portion is translucent, whereby aportion of an image displayed on the touchscreen display is visiblethrough the central portion.

According to an aspect, the control button further comprises a lensinset in the body, wherein an image displayed by the touchscreen displayunder the lens is transmitted through the lens and visible through thecentral portion.

According to an aspect, the central portion comprises a contact surfaceto be contacted by the user, and wherein the contact surface is flat.

According to an aspect, the body is ring-shaped.

According to an aspect, the touch sensitive component comprises aSurface Capacitive (SCAP) component.

According to an aspect, the control button further comprises a clickergenerating a clicking sound upon the control button moving from thenon-conducting position to the conducting position thereby confirming tothe user that the touch screen responds to the user's input.

According to an aspect, the body comprises a bottom face and an outerface, wherein the body comprise light transmissive material connectingthe bottom face to the outer face, the light transmissive materialtransmitting light emitted by the touchscreen display under the bottomface to the outer face.

According to an aspect, the body further comprises an inner face,wherein the inner face comprises an opaque surface.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a gaming machinecomprising: a gaming machine cabinet housing a processor; a memoryfunctionally connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores dataprocessable as a wagering game comprising steps comprising receivingplayer inputs, selecting an outcome among potential outcomes andgenerating visuals associated with the outcome; a first displayconnected to the processor to display at least part of the visuals; atouchscreen display connected to the processor, the touchscreen displaycomprising a display surface for displaying images and a touch sensitivecomponent responding upon contact of an electrical conductor; and acontrol button mounted to the display surface of the touchscreendisplay, comprising a translucent central portion through which at leastpart of the images displayed by the touchscreen display are visible tothe player, and a body surrounding the central portion, wherein pressureapplied by the player over the control button generates an input signaltransmitted to the processor through the touchscreen display.

According to an aspect, the display surface of the touchscreen displaycomprises an input portion free from the control button, wherein theinput portion is adapted to be directly contacted by the player togenerate another input signal.

According to an aspect, the processor interprets the input signal andthe other signal as different inputs resulting in different processes.

According to an aspect, the control button comprises a touch sensitivecomponent which has an electrical characteristic changed when contactedby the player.

According to an aspect, the body of the control button further comprisesan electrical contact, wherein an electrical circuit is completed fromthe touch sensitive component to the touchscreen display through theelectrical contact.

According to an aspect, the control button is able to adopt anon-conducting position and a conducting position, and wherein theelectrical contact further comprises an electrical interface contactingthe touchscreen display only when the control button is in theconducting position.

According to an aspect, the control button comprises a SurfaceCapacitive (SCAP) component.

According to an aspect, the control button comprises biasing meansresponding to pressure applied by the player over the control button,wherein the pressure results in the control button passing from anon-conducting position to a conducting position.

According to an aspect, the control button further comprises a clickergenerating a clicking sound upon the control button passing from thenon-conducting position to the conducting position.

According to an aspect, the gaming machine further comprises a lensinset in the body of the control button, wherein an image displayed bythe touchscreen display under the lens is transmitted through the lensand visible through the central portion.

According to an aspect, the body comprises a bottom face and an outerface, and wherein the body comprise light transmissive materialconnecting the bottom face to the outer face, the light transmissivematerial transmitting light emitted by the touchscreen display under thebottom face to the outer face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wagering game machine in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the wagering game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wagering game machine of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wagering game machine in accordancewith another embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the wagering game machine of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the wagering game machine of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the components of a wagering game machine inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of steps performed a wagering game machine inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a control button according to anembodiment;

FIG. 10 a cross-section elevated view of the control button of FIG. 9along the line A-A;

FIG. 11 is an exploded top perspective view of the control button ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the control button ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective top view of a portion of the body of thecontrol button of FIGS. 9-12; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective bottom view of the body of the control buttonof FIGS. 9-12.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present specification, the terms and expressions “gambling”,“gambling activities”, “gaming activities”, “wagering”, etc. are meantto refer to any process through which a player places a wager, andaccording to an outcome generation and evaluation process, a prize valueis established and awarded to a player.

The terms and expressions “player” and “patron” mean a person engaged orpotentially engaged in a gambling activity.

The terms and expressions “wagering game machine”, “gaming machine”,“game machine”, “gaming terminal”, “gaming device”, “game device”,“gaming table”, “player station” etc. are meant to refer to any deviceadapted to perform gambling services, such that a player may be engagedin a gambling activity through that device.

The term and expressions “game” in relation with gambling activitiesrefers to the presentation of the gambling activity to a player, orinteraction in a gaming activity with one or more players. The game maybe an instant game that may be resolved instantly, a multi-player gamewhere many players are involved in the gaming activity and wherein theactions of a player may influence the outcome provided to anotherplayer, or a game featuring some similar or different characteristicsthat results in the game fulfilling the above gambling definition.

The terms “monetary value” mean any value exchangeable for goods andservices.

The terms “medium” and “media”, in relation with monetary value, aremeant to encompass any physical or electronic support for monetaryvalues.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6,two embodiments of wagering game machines 10, 110 are illustrated.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 and additionally to FIG. 7, thewagering game machine 10 comprises a gaming machine cabinet 30 having afront 302, a back 304 and sides 308. The wagering game machine 10comprises a lower member 312 and an upper member 314. The wagering gamemachine 10 houses hardware components secured inside the gaming machinecabinet 30 in the lower member 312. The wagering game machine 10 alsohouses other hardware components, mostly to the upper member 314, wellsecured to the wagering game machine 10 with most of these hardwarecomponents interfacing with the environment and the player.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, the hardware components housed by thelower member 312 comprise memory device 26 functionally connected to theprocessor 21, display device 22 and input device 24 both alsofunctionally connected to the processor 21. The memory device 26 ispartially part of the gaming logic 29 of the wagering game machine 10.Removable media are considered outside the game logic 29.

The processor 21 typically comprises a processing component (a.k.a. amicroprocessor) and associated In/Out circuit through which signals areexchanged between the processor 21 and the functionally connectedhardware components.

The memory device 26 typically comprises program code memory (e.g. harddrive, Read-Only Memory (ROM)) wherein code processable to perform thewagering game are stored. Random Access Memory (RAM) and optionallyremovable media are also present or temporarily present in someembodiments. Example of optional removable media is a player club cardor other player identification device a hardware component functionallyconnected to the processor 21 is capable of reading upon insertion oruse in relation with the wagering game machine 10.

To play the wagering game, the memory stores data processable as thewagering game comprising steps comprising receiving player inputs,selecting an outcome among potential outcomes and generating visualsassociated with the outcome, and the processor processes the data andinputs, generates visuals and transmits the visuals to the displays andother output components to provide the game to the players.

Additional optional components frequently present on a wagering gamemachine 10 comprise accepting means 23, crediting means 25 andidentification means 27. The accepting means 23 is for acceptingmonetary value from a player, that monetary value being embodied as abank note, an accepted value-bearing token of some sort, or anelectronic value transfer. The crediting means 25 is for giving backmonetary values to the player, the monetary value being one or acombination of winnings from the game and credits transferred in thegame from which account the player desired to perform a withdraw. Bothaccepting means 23 and crediting means 25 can in some embodiments bepresent in a plurality of forms, and as a combination (e.g. a notereader and a printer, with the note bearing information related tocredit-value). The identification means 27 is for identifying the playerinteracting with the machine. In some embodiments, the identificationmeans 27 is embodied as a single component embodying bothreading/detecting function and displaying function. In otherembodiments, the identification means 27 takes advantage of componentsalready present in the wagering game machine 10, for example a cardreader and a display. Accordingly, the latter components are possible tobe embodied in a series of distinct ways based on desired realizations,these components requiring functional characteristics ofplayer-interfacing components and specific processing. In some cases,they require being in communication with systems remote to the wageringto gaming machine 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the wagering to gaming machine 10 comprises adisplay device 22 comprising a main display 200 and an edge display 220.The main display 200 is a typically a Liquid Crystal Display (LCDdisplay) and is mainly used to provide the game, namely the information,the animation and the outcome relative to the wagering game.

The wagering game played on the wagering game machine 10 consists in arandom process through which an outcome is provided to the player inexchange of a wager. The wagering game, in order to optimizeentertainment, comprises a variety of outcomes kept in a pool ofoutcomes, including losing outcomes and winning outcomes, and specialoutcomes. The outcomes are provided using animations, with the outcomebeing provided as a single animation or as a series of animationssumming up to the selected outcome, or selected from a distinct specialpool of outcomes. Some outcomes are instantaneous, requiring nointeraction from the player, and some outcomes require interaction fromthe player, for instance the selection of icons displayed on the screen,a player input to stop an animation, a variation of a wager specific tothat interaction, participation in a multi-player process, or any otherdecision or input a game designer would use to improve the entertainmentvalue of the game.

In the pool of outcomes, one or more outcomes are special outcomeshaving special significance to the players, for instance progressives(a.k.a. progressive prizes) which are variable value outcomes havingtheir value increasing as players participate in a game, either locallyon the wagering game machine 10 or on any wagering game machine 10 of apool of wagering game machines sharing a participation in theprogressive(s). In other cases, interactive outcomes ormulti-player-process triggering outcomes are considered specialoutcomes. These special outcomes are intended by the game designers tobe one of the features that distance their wagering game from the otherwagering games of a vicinity. So, the game designers need the occurrenceof the special outcomes to be highlighted in some way so that patrons inthe vicinity will be aware of the game and be incited to play the game.

Back to FIGS. 1 to 3, the wagering to gaming machine 10 comprises a maindisplay 200 located at the front 302 of the wagering to gaming machine10 and facing a player in normal conditions. On both sides of the maindisplay 200 are the edge displays 220. The main display 200 and the edgedisplay 220 are joining on the side of the main display 200 over thewhole height of the main display 200 at a side boundary line 208. Themain display 200 and the edge displays 220 abut to define a continuoussurface having a pleasing effect. The edge displays 220 have a curvedprofile wrapping from the main display 200 to the sides 308 of thewagering game machine 10. This also participate in providing a pleasingdesign.

The edge displays 220 comprises lighting components 222 outwardlyoriented covered by a film 224. The film 224 is made of a transparent,semi-transparent and/or light-diffusing material for the light emittedby the lighting components 222 to be visible by a patron.

Referring additionally to FIG. 8, the processor 21, upon occurrence of aspecial outcome, is adapted to provide signals to the lightingcomponents 222 (see FIGS. 1 to 6), and more specifically to the lightingrows to perform lighting functions. For instance, upon occurrence of aspecial outcome, an animation pattern can take place on the edgedisplays 220 with the color of the LEDs being selected to match orcomplement the nature of the animation provided on the main display 200.Furthermore, an animation on the edge displays 220 also matches theanimation displayed on the main display 200.

Accordingly, steps performed by the wagering game machine 10/110 can besummarized as follow:

At step S502, the step comprises receiving a wager from the player. Asexplained in relation with the accepting means, many forms may beavailable for the wager, from physical components to electroniccomponents and data.

At step S504, the step comprises generating one or more outcomes inexchange from the wager. That step involves the withdrawal of the wagervalue from a player account local to the wagering game machine 10/110,and selecting an outcome to be provided to the player among a pool ofoutcomes. One must understand that pool of outcomes should have a broadmeaning from a random selection of an element, random selection of aplurality of elements that combined together define the outcome, and/ora process of comparison of at least one random element with anothercomparison element to determine the outcome. Accordingly, outcomes maybe instantaneous, or may involve player's participation or a pluralityof players as examples.

At step S506, the step comprises displaying the one or more outcomes onthe main display 200. That step usually involves displaying informationand animation. In some cases, the outcome may involve a series ofanimations provided one after the other and summing up as the outcome.Displaying the game outcome on the main display may further comprisesdisplaying a portion of the game interface (e.g. the outcome generationanimation) on a first display component (e.g. the lower display 202,FIGS. 4-6) and displaying a second portion of the game interface, (e.g.the paytable) on a second display component (e.g. the central display204, FIGS. 4-6). Accordingly, one should understand that the step ofdisplaying an outcome may take many forms depending on the game, thegame environment, etc.

At step S508, the step comprises evaluating if the outcome is a specialoutcome.

At step S510, the step comprises, in case of a special outcome, todisplay the special outcome on the main display 200.

At step S512 which is performed at the same time as S510, the stepcomprises, in case of a special outcome, to display a special visualenhancement on the edge displays 220 according to the special outcomedisplay process.

Steps S506, S510 and S512 end with step S514. Step S514 comprisesawarding the outcome value of the one or more outcomes to the player. Aswith step S502, step S514 may take many forms based on the components ofthe wagering game machine 10/110 and based on systems with which thewagering game machine 10/110 communicate.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 to 6, the wagering game machine 110comprises a main display 200 comprising a plurality of distinct displaycomponents, namely a lower display 202, a central display 204 and anupper display 206 each functionally connected to the processor 21. Theedge display 220 comprises also a plurality of edge display components,namely a lower edge display 232, a central edge display 234 and an upperedge display 236. The main displays (202, 204, 206) join the edgedisplays (232, 234, 236) along a boundary line with the joint betweenthe side-by-side displays (202/232, 204/234, 206/236) providing asubstantially continuous surface. The edge displays (232, 234, 236) wrapfrom the main displays (202, 204, 206) to the corresponding component ofthe sides 308. Each edge display (232, 234, 236) comprises a series oflighting rows (adapted relative to the length of the boundary line).Each lighting row is functionally connected to the processor 21.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 to 6, the wagering game machines 10/110comprise a lower member 312 and an upper member 314. The wagering gamemachines 10/110 are designed as a modular device. The lower member 312comprises the part of the gaming machine cabinet 30 housing thecomponents that need to be secured out of reach of a patron. The uppermember 314 is customizable to adapt to the clientele. Wagering gamemachines 10/110 embody examples of customization, including the size andnumber of displays components part of the main display 200, theconfiguration of the main display components, the presence, nature andconfiguration of additional display components such as, withoutlimitation, edge displays, horizontal lighting components, customizableadvertising components, candle light, etc. Games are designed tospecific configurations, and/or processable code comprises code specificto a plurality of configurations, with the processor 21 selecting thecorrect code to process based either on recognition of the displays(using plug and play technology for instance) and/or based on manuallyentered configuration.

The lower member 312 comprises additional components, such as withoutlimitation, overheating fans, speakers, input devices 24, lockableinterior-cabinet door, and lighting components.

Connection between components housed by the upper member 314 and thelower member 312 is provided through cables passing in an enclosurelocated behind the main display 200 both providing structural robustnessto support the main display 200 and other upper member components andproving a closed area for these cables to go through, preventing themthus to be handled by non-authorized individuals.

Joining the lower member 312 to the upper member 314 is a rear lightingwedge 240. The rear lighting wedge 240 wraps the sides 308 and the back304 of the lower member 312 with the rear and back of the upper member314, substantially at the base of the lowest component of the maindisplay 200. The rear lighting wedge 240 is functionally connected tothe processor 21 for control. The rear lighting wedge 240 is similar incomponents and configurations as the edge display 220. The lightingcomponents of the rear lighting wedge 240 are facing substantiallyupward and backward to provide a lighting ambiance in the vicinity ofthe wagering game machine 10/110.

The rear lighting wedge 240 is further adapted to by applied on itsexternal surface a film providing advertising on the maker of the gamingmachine cabinet 30, the game designer, the game distributer, the gametitle and/or the vicinity in which the wagering gamine machine 10/110 isoperating.

Advantages associated with the rear lighting wedge 240 comprise theemitted light providing a “floating feeling” associated with thewagering game machines 10/110, better visibility when the wagering gamemachines 10/110 is installed side by side with other wagering gamemachines in the vicinity, better perception of the thickness of thewagering game machines 10/110, and acts as cover for the physicalattachments used to secure the upper member 314 to the lower member 312.

The wagering game machines 10/110 also comprise in the front 302Universal Serial Bus ports (USB ports 252—FIGS. 2 and 5). According to arealization, the USB ports 252 are functionally connected to a powersource allowing a player to recharge their phone or other personal smallelectronic device during a play session.

According to a realization, the USB ports 252 are functionally connectedto the processor 21, capable of exchanging data with the processor 21such as accessing Internet through the wagering game machine 10/110.According to a realization, the processor 21 is adapted to exchange dataaccording to a specific app installed on the player's device.Accordingly, the personal device physically connected to one USB port252, through that app, may operate as a proxy extending the playingcapability of the wagering game machine 10/110, for instance bydisplaying animation and receiving input from the player.

According to a realization, the USB port 252 are usable for transfersecured data to the processor 21. The transfer is performed using asecured protocol and is further secured through device identification bya secured server. The transfer allows access to configuration of thewagering game machine 10/110 and/or allows download of configurationdata into the wagering game machine 10/110.

The wagering game machines 10/110 further comprise a personal devicerail 254 (FIGS. 2 and 5) at the rear end of a control board 260. Thepersonal device rail 254 acts as a stand for phones and other player'spersonal devices. The personal device rail 254 consists of a wide upwardbump appropriately located for the device to be placed on or beyond thebump leaned over the front 302 of the wagering game machine 10/110. Thepersonal device becomes thus slightly sloped, facing front and upwardrelative to the wagering game machines 10/110.

The wagering game machines 10/110 further comprise a speaker bar 256 andtwo control buttons 258 (FIGS. 2 and 5) integrated into a horizontalfeature at the top end of the lower member 312. The location andconfiguration provide the sound box area necessary to provide highquality sound to the player. The location of the control buttons 258,normally associated with cash-out function and service function, areideally for easy recognition from players as to prevent accidentalpushing of the buttons 258.

It must be noted that, in a preferred embodiment, the speaker bar 256and the control buttons 258 are integrated with a contrasting color tofeature visually as a horizontal stripe. The speaker grille ispreferably made of metal with a small diameter continuous through holegrid.

The wagering game machines 10/110 further comprise a control panelblanking display 270 located between the rear end of the control board260 and the speaker bar 256. The control panel blanking display 270 isfor displaying information to the player provided by a remote playertracking system or an advertising system for instance. The control panelblanking display 270 is functionally connected to the processor 21.

The control panel blanking display 270, according to a realization,operates as a player tracking display, being functionally connected to aplayer tracking system (not shown) remote from the wagering game machine10/110. Alternative remote systems may connect to the control panelblanking display 270 to provide a variety of experience and interactionsto the player, from player tracking, membership, account management,advertising, vicinity provided rewards, etc. Functions are based onlocal processable data and/or functions of remote connected systems.

According to embodiments, other input/output components may also operatein relation with remote systems to feed these systems with data andprovide players with information based on data received from one suchremote system. Examples of other components comprise card reader, ticketreader, ticket printer, lighting system, etc.

The wagering game machines 10/110 further comprise a lighting bellyglass 272 located at the front 302 under the control board 260. As otherlighting components of the wagering game machine 10/110, the belly glass272 is controlled by the processor 21 and may bear an advertising film.Lighting effects applicable on the belly glass 272 comprise, asexamples, surrounding illumination, heart-beat lighting effect, gradientlighting, etc. As other display components, the belly glass 272preferably wraps around the wagering game machine 10/110 from one side308 to the other side 308, providing a rounded design matching the otherdisplay components of the wagering game machine 10/110.

According to embodiments, image capture or light level detection is usedto monitor environment. According to algorithms, lighting components areoperating in different modes based on, for instance, the presence ofplayers in front of the wagering game machine 10/110, the darkness ofthe vicinity, and/or the period of the day for examples.

The wagering gaming machines 10/110 further comprise a control board 260on which most of the controls usable by a player to play the game arelocated. The control board 260 is located substantially at the top ofthe lower member 312 of the wagering gaming machines 10/110, below themain display 200, the speaker bar 256 and the control panel blankingdisplay 270. It extends forward, leaving leg space under, and over thewidth of the wagering gaming machine 10/110. Controls are mounted on itsdisplay surface 265 (see FIG. 4), providing an ergonomic configuration.

According to a realization, the controls of the control board 260comprise a touchscreen display 266 functionally connected to theprocessor 21. The touchscreen display 266 is adapted with a displaysurface 265 to dynamically display images and to receive inputs from aplayer, the display surface 265 further comprising a touch sensitivecomponent 264 reacting/responding/being activated upon contact of anelectrical conducting surface (aka electrical conductor or electricalconducting element) such as the skin of a user, aka a player. Thecontrols of the control board 260 further comprise a pair of controlbuttons 262 (a.k.a. press buttons or physical buttons) mounted to thedisplay surface 265 of touchscreen display 266 and functionallyconnected to the processor 21 through the touchscreen display 266. Thecontrol buttons 262 are press buttons emitting a signal when pressed bya player, the signal being transmitted to the processor 21 through thetouchscreen display 266. In a particular realization, the controlbuttons 262 are associated with play functions in the game. In somerealizations, the play functions associated with the play buttons varyalong the play of the game based on its current state. In a realization,the two control buttons 262 are identical in shape and function,providing an opening for player preference on the right side or on theleft side of the control board 260.

The touchscreen display 266 comprises a touch sensitive component 264extending over at least a portion of its display surface 265, the touchsensitive component 264 extending under the mounting locations of thecontrol buttons 262 over the touchscreen display 266. According to arealization, the touch sensitive component 264 substantially extendsover the whole surface of the display surface 265. The touch sensitivecomponent 264 provides an area in which the touchscreen display 266 issensitive to player contacts and signals from the control buttons 262.The touchscreen display 266 is adapted to emits signals to the processor21 upon contacts from the player, for the processor 21 to potentiallyrespond to these inputs with modification of the play of the game, imagedisplayed on any of the main displays (202, 204, 206) and/or images tobe displayed on the touchscreen display 266.

According to a realization, the touchscreen display 266 displaysinformation and animations relative to the conduct of the game, anddynamically provides soft controls (locations on the touch sensitivecomponent 264 sensible at that time to receive inputs from the player,not shown) and physical button display information that is visible tothe player through the control buttons 262. The soft controls may beactivated only at some moments of the game, or associated with specificoutcomes of the game.

The control board 260, with its combination of control buttons 262 andtouchscreen display 266, provides flexibility and robustness allowing anenjoyable play of the wagering game, and adaptation to different gamesdemanding distinct display and/or distinct controls.

The processor 21 manages the touch sensitive component 264 with amapping of coordinates corresponding to unitary areas of the touchscreendisplay. The processor set some of these coordinates are inactive, thuscontacts over these coordinates would not result in any signal beingprocessed. Other coordinates are set as active coordinates, among themthe soft button and locations under the transparent central portion 420of the control buttons 262 and the peripheral portion 430 (see FIGS.9-12). The latter are halo coordinates that are managed by the processor21 in association with two display profiles resulting in, for instance,display of different colors at these coordinates based on no signalbeing received in association with the control button 262 (i.e. thecontrol buttons 262 being inactive) versus a signal being received (i.e.one of the control buttons 262 being inactive).

Referring additionally to FIGS. 9-12, each control buttons 262 comprisesa central portion 420 and a peripheral portion 430 defining a body 410.

The central portion 420 is made of transparent material allowing aplayer to see through the central portion 420 images displayed by thetouchscreen display 266 on which the control button 262 is mounted. Thecentral portion 420 comprises a transparent component 422 comprisingcontact surface 426 on top and a touch sensitive component 424associated therewith. According to one realization, the touch sensitivecomponent 424 consists of a Surface Capacitive (SCAP) located distantfrom the contact surface 426 but reacting/responding to player contactwith the contact surface 426 of the control button 262. The transparentcomponent 422 is made of glass, and more specifically of an indium tinoxide (ITO)-type glass which is well adapted for operationcharacteristics associated with a gaming machine. The selection of aPCAP technology provide a longer lifespan expectancy since the contactsurface 426 is less sensitive to surface scratches than alternativetechnologies; what is well adapted for the control button 262.

The peripheral portion 430 comprises an edge housing 438 and biasingmeans 432 that typically comprises a plurality of springs 442 (notillustrated at scale on FIGS. 11 and 12) housed by the edge housing 438.The biasing means 432 allows the control button 262 to pass from adefault expanded configuration (aka non-conducting position) to acompressed configuration (aka conducting position) wherein the contactsurface 426 of the control button 262 is lowered relatively to theexpanded configuration, upon a pressure being applied over the controlbutton 262 by the player. The peripheral portion 430 further comprises aclicking means 434, the clicking means 434 emitting a clicking soundupon the control button 262 entering its compressed configuration. Theedge housing 438 further comprises electrical contacts 436 in connectionon one extremity to the touch sensitive component 424 and on the otherextremity to the touchscreen display 266 when the control button 262 incompressed configuration. Thus, in the conducting position, anelectrical circuit is completed from the touch sensitive component 424of the control button 262 to the touch sensitive component 264 of thetouchscreen display 266 through the electrical contacts 436.

According to one realization, a common component made of transmissivematerial operates as the biasing means 432, the clicking means 434 andthe electrical contacts 436. According to a realization, the commoncomponent comprises a series of metallic springs 442 acting also as anelectrical connector 444 to the touch sensitive component 424 and anelectrical interface 446 contacting the touchscreen display 266 upon thecontrol button 262 being pressed. Upon the pression being released onthe control button 262, the springs 442 push back the control button 262in its expanded configuration, ceasing at the same time contact betweenthe electrical interfaces 446 and the touchscreen display 266.

According to a realization, the control button 262 further comprises alens 450 located under the transparent central portion 420, the lens 450being for increasing the size of the image displayed by the touchscreendisplay 266 at the location of the control button 262 and/or visuallymodifying the level of the surface on which is displayed the image,displaying the image closer thus raising the image above the touchscreendisplay 266.

According to a realization, the control button 262 is mounted on thetouchscreen display 266 using glue, another type of adhesive or anothernon-altering surface technique, preventing the mounting of the controlbutton 262 on the touchscreen display 266 from negatively affecting theoperation (i.e., electrical conductivity) of the touchscreen display 266both under the control button 262 and on other portions of the touchsensitive component 264. According to realizations, the mountingmaterial (i.e., adhesive) used is an electrically conductive material.According to a realization, the mounting material is applied over thebottom face 468 distant from the electrical contacts 436. The mountingmaterial is further selected to be translucent, aka an optical clearadhesive, allowing light to pass through for the body 410 to be lit bythe touchscreen display 266. According to realizations, the lens 450 iseither freely inset in the control button 262 or mounted to thetouchscreen display 266 using a similar optical clear adhesive.

According to an embodiment, the adhesive used to mount the controlbutton 262 on the touchscreen display 266 has similar physicalcharacteristics as those of the ITO glass used for the touchscreendisplay 266.

According to a realization, the edge housing 438 is of a ring shapecomprising an inner face 462, an outer face 464 (comprising a top face465 and a peripheral face 467) and a bottom face 468. The lens 450, ifpresent, is located within the limits of the inner face 462, inset inthe control button 262. According to one realization, the inner face 462is made of an opaque material, an according to a realization of areflective material. The outer face 464 and the bottom face 468 is atleast partially made of light transmissive material. The outer facefurther usually has light diffusing quality. The edge housing 438comprises light transmitting material permitting to light emitted by thetouchscreen display 266 about the bottom face 468, where the controlbutton 262 contacts the touchscreen display 266, to be transmitted tothe outer face 464 to be visible by the player. According to arealization. the processor 21 responds to the reception of a signal froma control button 262 with a profile, i.e. change of colors of a haloarea under the bottom face 468 from, for example, orange to green tovisually confirm the player of the button press being registered.

One must note that the above description is for teaching only and thedynamic effect to be performed through the touchscreen display 266 andthe control button 262 are fully customable through coding of the game.

According to a realization, the touchscreen display 266 uses a ProjectedCapacitive (PCAP) technology to register contacts of a player, thus thePCAP is able to register both finger contacts and electrical contactsfrom the control buttons 262.

The touch sensitive component 264 is further dynamically limited to anactive portion defined as a subset of display addresses, wherein thelimits are dynamically defined during sequences of the game. The dynamiclimitation practically consists in the processor voluntary ignoringsignals outside the active portion, thus outside the subset of displayaddresses. Thus, the player posing its finger or hand on the touchscreendisplay 266 outside the active portion(s) of the touch sensitivecomponent 264 would not affect the game. One would understand that theactive portion(s) of the touch sensitive component 264 comprises areasunder the control buttons 262.

According to evolution of the game, the active portion(s) of the touchsensitive component 264 would be modified to comprise soft controls thatwould be displayed on the touchscreen display 266. The signals resultingfrom the activation of these soft controls would be process as distinctsignals from the control button signals and would potentially beassociated with different processes in the game.

According to a realization (FIG. 4), the touch sensitive component 264extends over the width of the control board 260, having the controlbuttons 262 located in a button area 268 of the touch sensitivecomponent 264. As described above, the touch sensitive component 264features a dynamic display. According to the present embodiment, thecontrol buttons 262 are transmitting signals upon be pressed. Accordingto embodiments, the display in the physical button area 268 iscontrolled by the processor 21 to operate according to signals receivedfrom the touch sensitive component 424 associated with the controlbuttons 262. Thus, upon one of the control buttons 262 being pressed,what is displayed in the physical button area 268 is modified.

According to a realization, the control buttons 262 are made at leastpartially of transparent material or light-transmissive material. Uponbeing pressed, the top and/or edge surroundings of the physical buttonarea 268 is lit up, providing a feeling that the over-mounted physicalbutton 262 is lit up.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 13 and 14, the clicking means 434 of thecontrol button 262 are mounted on a bottom portion of the body 410. Theclicking means 434 are of a domed shape and are anchored with four legsto the bottom portion of the body 410. Upon pressure over the clickingmeans 434 resulting from the control button 262 passing in a compressedconfiguration, the dome shape of the clicking means 434 is deformed,generating the desired clicking sound. Upon the pressure being releasedand the control button 262 restoring to its expanded configuration. Theclicking means 434 also restores to its original dome shape.

Referring particularly to FIG. 14, the six (6) springs 442 are shown tobe able to pass through the bottom portion of the body 410 to contactthe electric contacts 436 when the control button 262 in the compressed(aka contacting) configuration. The springs 442 and the associatedpassages (holes in the bottom portion and middle portion of the body410) are sized for the springs 442 to contact the electric contacts 436and the top portion of the body 410 when in a compressed configuration,passing through the middle and bottom portion and the body 410). Theelectric contacts 436 are disks of electrical conducting copper.

Still referring to FIGS. 12-14, according to another embodiment, theelectrical contact is made from the central portion 420, to the springs442, to the clicking means 434 and to the electrical contacts 436. Theelectrical connection is therefore made in the compressed/contactingposition when the user's finger applies sufficient pressure for theclicking means 434 to contact the electrical contacts 434. As soon aspressure is release by the user, the clicking means 434 returns to itsoriginal shape and the electrical connection does not exist.

Although the description refers to a clicking means 434, this componentcan also be referred to as a clicker 434. The shape or configuration ofclicker 434 is therefore not specifically limited to the embodimentshown in FIG. 13. Other configurations for devices which produce aclicking sound by deformation are also possible. Still according toanother embodiment, the spring 442 and the clicker 434 can be combinedinto a single component (i.e., a clicking spring) which achieves thefunctions of both components.

A person of the art must note that many components of the wagering gamemachines 10/110 are functionally connected to the processor 21.Accordingly, in embodiments the processor 21 comprises a main processorresponsible for core processes (game, credit management, remote systemcommunication, essential input components, essential output components)while one or more add-on processors functionally connected to the mainprocessor are responsible to control extra components (e.g.non-essential components such as belly glass 272, rear lighting wedge240 and edge displays 220).

According to embodiments, the number of components with variable powerconsumption creates a challenge. Examples of variable power consumptioncomponents comprise intermittent active devices such as printers andvariable power demand devices such as edge displays 220. Accordingly,hardware and/or software components are included to monitor powerconsumption and to limit, phase or channel power consumption to therequiring devices to prevent the power consumption to reach a powerconsumption threshold.

According to a realization, a power monitoring process operates in acontinuous manner on the processor 21. Based on the outcome of the powermonitoring, algorithms are performed to limit total power consumption.Characteristics used by the algorithms comprise device deactivation,power re-routing, and power consumption scheduling.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in theart that modifications may be made without departing from thisdisclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variantscomprised in the scope of the disclosure.

1. A control button for installation on a touchscreen display respondingupon contact by an electrical conductor, the control button comprising:a central portion comprising a touch sensitive component having anelectrical characteristic that changes upon contact of a user's skin orby an electrical conductor; and a body comprising electrical contactsand a biasing device; wherein the control button adopts at least one ofa non-conducting position and a conducting position, whereby the biasingdevice biases the control button toward the non-conducting position, andwherein, upon pressure being applied by the user to the central portion,the control button moves from the non-conducting position until thecontrol button reaches the conducting position, whereby in theconducting position an electrical circuit is completed from the touchsensitive component to the touchscreen display through the electricalcontacts.
 2. The control button of claim 1, wherein the central portionis translucent, whereby a portion of an image displayed on thetouchscreen display is visible through the central portion.
 3. Thecontrol button of claim 2, further comprising a lens inset in the body,wherein an image displayed by the touchscreen display under the lens istransmitted through the lens and visible through the central portion. 4.The control button of claim 1, wherein the central portion comprises acontact surface to be contacted by the user, and wherein the contactsurface is flat.
 5. The control button of claim 1, wherein the body isring-shaped.
 6. The control button of claim 1, wherein the touchsensitive component comprises a Surface Capacitive (SCAP) component. 7.The control button of claim 1, further comprising a clicker generating aclicking sound upon the control button moving from the non-conductingposition to the conducting position thereby confirming to the user thatthe touch screen responds to the user's input.
 8. The control button ofclaim 1, wherein the body comprises a bottom face and an outer face,wherein the body comprise light transmissive material connecting thebottom face to the outer face, the light transmissive materialtransmitting light emitted by the touchscreen display under the bottomface to the outer face.
 9. The control button of claim 8, wherein thebody further comprises an inner face, wherein the inner face comprisesan opaque surface.
 10. A gaming machine comprising: a gaming machinecabinet housing a processor; a memory functionally connected to theprocessor, wherein the memory stores data processable as a wagering gamecomprising steps comprising receiving player inputs, selecting anoutcome among potential outcomes and generating visuals associated withthe outcome; a first display connected to the processor to display atleast part of the visuals; a touchscreen display connected to theprocessor, the touchscreen display comprising a display surface fordisplaying images and a touch sensitive component responding uponcontact of an electrical conductor; and a control button mounted to thedisplay surface of the touchscreen display, comprising a translucentcentral portion through which at least part of the images displayed bythe touchscreen display are visible to the player, and a bodysurrounding the central portion, wherein pressure applied by the playerover the control button generates an input signal transmitted to theprocessor through the touchscreen display.
 11. The gaming machine ofclaim 10, wherein the display surface of the touchscreen displaycomprises an input portion free from the control button, wherein theinput portion is adapted to be directly contacted by the player togenerate another input signal.
 12. The gaming machine of claim 11,wherein the processor interprets the input signal and the other signalas different inputs resulting in different processes.
 13. The gamingmachine of claim 10, wherein the control button comprises a touchsensitive component which has an electrical characteristic changed whencontacted by the player.
 14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein thebody of the control button further comprises an electrical contact,wherein an electrical circuit is completed from the touch sensitivecomponent to the touchscreen display through the electrical contact. 15.The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the control button is able toadopt a non-conducting position and a conducting position, and whereinthe electrical contact further comprises an electrical interfacecontacting the touchscreen display only when the control button is inthe conducting position.
 16. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein thecontrol button comprises a Surface Capacitive (SCAP) component.
 17. Thegaming machine of claim 10, wherein the control button comprises biasingmeans responding to pressure applied by the player over the controlbutton, wherein the pressure results in the control button passing froma non-conducting position to a conducting position.
 18. The gamingmachine of claim 17, further comprising a clicker generating a clickingsound upon the control button passing from the non-conducting positionto the conducting position.
 19. The gaming machine of claim 10, whereinthe gaming machine further comprises a lens inset in the body of thecontrol button, wherein an image displayed by the touchscreen displayunder the lens is transmitted through the lens and visible through thecentral portion.
 20. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the bodycomprises a bottom face and an outer face, and wherein the body compriselight transmissive material connecting the bottom face to the outerface, the light transmissive material transmitting light emitted by thetouchscreen display under the bottom face to the outer face.